Good Play and Poor Finishing combine for narrow 1-0 victory
by William ‘BilFish’ Fisher

Denver, CO. August 23, 2004 (ASN) — Colorado Head Coach Tim Hankinson's decision to "replay" the Rapids' earlier win over the MetroStars paid off handsomely.

Jordan Cila was inserted up top alongside captain John Spencer as Los Dos Cubans found themselves benchwarming to start the night's effort at home.

Hankinson obviously recalled Cila's double-shocker against the MetroStars back in June, and his strategy was clear: have Cila go for the two-peat.

It worked.

Proving his effectiveness as a poaching forward, Cila cleaned up after MetroStars keeper Jonny Walker coughed up an untimely rebound off a blast by midfielder Mark Chung.

Taking his time, the N.Y. native popped the ball over a diving Walker into the upper back of the net for the only tally of the night.

Calling Miss Manners
Ending only 1-0, the game appeared destined for a 5-0 scoreline as Colorado's midfield sent monster opportunities into the box, but the forwards provided embarrassing finishing on the end of each cross.

The Rapids were not simply content to tease the hometown fans in the goalmouth; they also had indecisive feet in their own 18-yard area. With unconvincing clearances throughout the game, Colorado teased the MetroStars, allowing extended passing chances for the opposition throughout the defensive third.

Fortunately, while the Rapids left great crosses on the cutting room floor, the MetroStars couldn't be bothered to start the offensive drive at all, impacting their ability to finish nonexistent balls being crossed anywhere but on target.

Spencer started the Rapids efforts in just the third minute off a deflected cross through the box from Kyle Beckerman, shanking the open netter wide left.

The first third of the game then quickly degenerated into a choppy affair as the Rapids pushed forward effectively and the MetroStars were reduced to near-continuous fouling in the midfield.

Chung led the midfield with vision and hustle, creating chances, causing fouls, and winning 50-50 balls to help Colorado control the game tempo and possession in the first half.

Meanwhile, the MetroStars' only interesting offense came from two free kick attempts by MLS point leader Amado Guevara. Otherwise, holding midfielder Beckerman and Chung effectively combined to silence and frustrate the MetroStars best offensive player in the middle of the park and in front of goal.

Matt "One Size Fits All" Crawford was pushed to right mid as Darryl Powell reentered play at left back after being injured July 14 against Los Angeles. This proved to be another wise coaching move as Crawford ranged freely up the wings, ultimately sending in timely crosses from both sides to create dangerous chances for the Rapids.

The entire Colorado starting 11 apparently made a pregame pact to get forward as they created kick-yourself-for-missing threats in minutes 30, 31, 36, 39... Bingo?

Nope. Unfortunately the Rapids inability to connect the dots in the forward third —and clear the rock in the defensive end— meant the scoreline remained a head-scratching 0-0 at halftime.

"We were just playing a lot of long balls and they were getting the first header to them, so that wasn't working. It was a tough game, a hard-fought game..."
MetroStars forward Fabian Taylor

All was quiet on the western wings for Powell, who lasted 60 minutes as he and Antonio De la Torre patrolled the borders.

Discussing his first on-screen appearance in over a month Powell said, "It felt really good to get back out there. It was quite a bad tear, but I made good progress to get back.

"Last week my aim was to be on the bench and do 20 minutes, but as the week progressed it felt better and it looked like I could start, so I was really pleased to get an hour out there and be on the winning side."

Sensing the spaces created by the Rapids' full-team attacks, the MetroStars alternated between desperate long balls and jumbled attacks through the middle.

Rather than deflate during the halftime breather from the missed opportunities, Colorado picked up where they left off, sensing fate behind them.

Beckerman and Guevara came out sparring at center field in the second half, fouling each other and signaling there would be no quarter given by either side.

It took the most complicated execution of the evening including four players to finally scratch the Rapids scoring itch.

Foretelling his future at halftime, Crawford discussed his team's strategy going forward with Fox Sports Net: "We're trying to get the ball wide and get some balls into the box and make something happen."

Something did.

Crawford moved up the right side to deliver another well-scouted shot across the box to where Chris Henderson was poorly marked on the far side. Continuing with 20/20 speed vision, Henderson delivered a one-touch header towards Chung who was running at speed across the 18-yard box.

Leaping into the air, Chung delivered a punishing, acrobatic left-foot blast towards the MetroStars keeper. With good positioning, Walker made the save but couldn't hold onto the hammerstruck ball.

Showing that teamwork occasionally pays off, Cila moved in and confidently pushed the freely bouncing ball over an outstretched Walker for his third goal and second game-winning strike against the MetroStars.

Talking with Fox Sports Net after the game, Cila said he made sure to avoid the chronic forward error of trying to knock the spots off the ball. "I knew if I could lob it a little over [Walker] it would hit the net."

Showing veteran patience, Cila did just that, going where true veterans Henderson, Spencer, Crawford and Chung failed to go when their numbers were called.

The Rapids coach looked back at the lone goal of the evening and liked the way it developed.

"You make opportunities for yourself," Hankinson said.

"I think Henderson's header and Chung's volley were just as important, and Jordan is one of those poachers that is in the right place at the right time. That is the kind of game that he has shown. He did it in New York and he did it again tonight."

Providing an interesting distraction from the 60th through to the 90th minute, Alberto Delgado came on for a tired Powell, moving up front as Crawford slipped seamlessly to the back line.

Interesting, that is, in the sense that Delgado proved inattentive on the ball and incapable of adding to the Rapids lead despite numerous opportunities to do so.

Whether it was losing the ball at his feet six yards from goal or destroying a beautiful two-on-one breakaway with Spencer, Delgado sprayed miskick after miskick over the endline, behind attackers, and generally away to safety as the MetroStars backline looked on bemused by his efforts.

For their part, the MetroStars were reduced to attacks such as Joselito Vaca's 25-yard lob towards the MLS' best goalkeeper Joe Cannon.

Substitutions in the 69th and 76th minute brought on Sergio Galvan Rey and Fabian Taylor for the Metros in hopes of sparking greater offensive output, or any output for that matter.

"We were just playing a lot of long balls," said Taylor, "and they were getting the first header to them, so that wasn't working. It was a tough game, a hard-fought game."

The strategy to push forward late worked in that the MetroStars created their best opportunity of the evening — a leading ball by Guevara to youngster Eddie Gaven, whose blast on goal in the 81st minute was met by a well-positioned reflex save from Cannon.

It didn't work in that the Metros played to the level of Colorado's defensive indecisiveness and failed to score when they had to.

"We let ourselves down a little bit," said MetroStars Head Coach Bob Bradley.

"I think we were in the position to create chances, but I don't think we were sharp enough," Bradley said in a post-game discussion on the miscues by his team.

"I don't think that our passing was good. I don't think our first touch in certain cases when we had a bit of an advantage was good, and I don't think our finishing was good."

Cila provided some insight talking with Fox Sports Net to the Rapids sudden burst of energy over the past two games that has them contending, yes, contending for tops in the West.

"The Chicago game had a lot to do with it," Cila said. "It's building confidence. There's no reason why we can't win our conference. Since we have [found] that mindset, we're playing much better soccer."

Yes they are. And they'll need their good form to continue next week away at San Jose as the Earthquakes smashed Dallas 3-0 Saturday and are nipping at Colorado's heels.